Pouch



Oct. 20, 1936.

w. KOELLER POUCH Filed Oct. 26, 1934 Patented Oct. 20, 1936 UNITEDSTATES. -1,

POUCH Walter P. Koeller, Chicago; Ill., assignor .to' f Pres-To-FillProducts Company, a corporation of Illinois Chicago, 111.,

Application October 26, 1934,sfi J 1 V e 3 Claims. (Cl. -40) v Thepresent invention relates to a self-closing, refillable pouch orenvelope suitable for storing and dispensing powdered and granularmaterials.

Included in the objects of the invention, among others, are theprovision of the following: i

An unique structure suitable for pocket 'or purse use having openings,one to receive a material and the other to dispense such material;

An improved construction for a flexible pouch or envelope having adispensing part that is spring closed; I

A container or envelope possessing a discharge or dispensing openingthat will be closed at-all times that it is not forcibly held openfand Anovel combination of flexible material and spring means for producing aself closing aperture in a material containing pouch or the like. Theseobjects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, are obtainedby the novel construction, improved arrangement, and unique combinationof the several elements that consti tute the invention, one embodimentof which is illustrated in the accompanying single sheet of drawingshereby made a part of this specification, and inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pouch embodying the subject matter ofthe present invention;

' Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on' the line 22 of Figure .1;

Figure 3 is a. fragmentary transverse section taken on the line 33 ofFigure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevation of the dispensing end of the pouch when inclosed position; and

Figure 5 is a similar view of the end' of the device when open fordispensing purposes.

Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts in thedrawing and in the description of the invention that follows.

The pouch illustrated comprises flat parallel side members l0 and I ofsubstantially the same size and pattern. The sides I0 and II may beintegral if the pouch is made of rubber or any other moldable material.When other materials are used, these may be stitched together at theiredges. The pouch illustrated is of rubber with the sides l0 and IIintegral at their edges, the outer faces of sides l0 and H being moldedto imitate the grain of leather. The edges of sides It] and II simulatestitching.

The pouch may be said to comprise .a substantially coniform tube thathas been flattened, the lower or discharge end of the tube beingnarrower than the upper or receiving end.

Each of the side members Ill and II has an upwardly extending arcuateflap, I2 and I3. The

fitting into pockets f8 and-l9'just'described and flap [2. on side I0.isturned downwardly over the contents of the pouch. The outermost. flap13 on side II is pulled; over the innermost flap l2 and fastened in,closed position by a snap fastener, the base |4 of which is, secured toside l0 and =5 the snap part l5 of which'is attached to flap 43. Thepouch illustrated in Figure 1 is satisfactory for pocket use and isadapted to be charged with tobacco, but theinvention is in no waylimited to a pouchofthe shape illustrated or to one for holding tobacco.Face powder, tooth powder, and a number of otheritems may be stored inand dispensed from other styles andflsizes of pouches made in accordwith the present inven tion. I At the lower end of the pouch, there is anarrow slot [6 that extends approximately halfway across the lower endll of the pouch and which isv centered in respect to the opposed edgesand the, opposed faces of the pouch. Theslit I1 is parallel tothe outerfacesv of sides l0 and of the pouch. i r l o At the interior corners ofthe lower end of the pouch. are relatively deep pockets l8 and I9, bestillustrated in Figure 3. Seated in the pockets and "secured therein bysuitable cement 20 are the ends of a metal spring 2| of U-shape.'springjl comprises a closed end 22 .and two'legs 23 and*24;fthe'-free"ends of the legs 23-and 24 being secured againstdisplacement therefrom by adhesive 20.

The spring 2| is of fiat resilient stock. Its closed section 22 isformed with the flat faces of the spring extending transversely of thepouch from side ID to side Each of the legs 23 and 24 preferably isformed with one edge of the fiat material in alignment with a lateraledge of the pouch. The spring 2| is so shaped that when pressure isapplied to the legs 23 and 24 which are slightly turned in adjacent thelower end of the pouch, the legs of the spring will be forced inwardlyin a uniform manner with their outer edges in substantial parallelismand thus insure a symmetrical opening of the slot or slit I6. Such anarrangement also insures that the metal of the spring 2| will not biteinto the material of the pouch unevenly at any one or more points alongthe line of spring contact with the material forming the lateral edgesof the pouch.

The spring 2| and the pouch material engaged thereby are in contact buta limited length of the legs 23 and 24. This limited contact is for thepurpose of preventing the pouch from being opened unless it is graspedclosely adjacent its 5 extreme end I7. A pressing of the spring atpoints remote from end I'I will not force the ends of the springtogether to spread the sides I and II apart at slit I6. The twisting ofthe spring adds to its strength and produces a slight separation betweenthe sides I0 and II.

The lower end or discharge end of the pouch is normally closed by thetension of the spring 2I. Such tension tends to stretch the bottom ofthe pouch and thus draws the sides I0 and II together at end I'I. Withthe pouch closed at its lower end, tobacco or other material is loadedinto the pouch through the wide mouth thereof obtained by separating theclasp fastener I4 and I and spreading the two flaps I2 and I3 upwardlyinto a funnel shape. After sufl'icient tobacco has been loaded in thepouch, the flap I2 is turned inwardly and downwardly and the outer flapis then drawn thereover. The fastener parts I4 and I5 are snapped intoposition. The pouch is then ready for use. It may be carried in thepocket in the case of tobacco and in the purse in the case of facepowder.

For use, the pouch is grasped adjacent its lower end I'I, generallybetween the palm of the hand and one or more fingers, or by the thumband fingers. The ends of the spring 2| are pressed inwardly. Thisproduces a symmetrical opening of the slit I6 from its closed positionillustrated in Figure 4 to its open position shown in Figure 5.

The opening of the pouch permits a free discharge of the contents of thepouch. The rate of fiow will be determined by the size of the opening,and the size of the opening is regulated by the pressure upon the springends. To arrest the flow of material from the pouch, the pressure uponthe spring is reduced to a minimum and the slit or slot I 6automatically closes. The shape and size of the aperture in theillustrated embodiment of the invention is such that the opening fitsreadily over a pipe bowl so that tobacco may be poured into such pipewithout any loss by spilling. For face powder or other materials, theslit may be much smaller and the entire pouch may be of reduced size.

The spring 2| may be of any suitable metal and may be plated with amaterial which is not affected by the contents of the pouch. Suchplatings as cadmium, nickel and chromium have their particularutilities.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A pouch comprising a flattened tube of elastic material having alarge top end and a small bottom end having a slit therein, closingflaps at the top end, moulded spring retaining pockets at each side ofthe slit in the bottom end, and a U-shaped spring of strap materialwithin the pouch and having its ends cemented into said pockets, thelegs of the spring being in contact with the insides of the edges ofsaid flattened tube above said pockets, and such slit being openableupon compression of the legs of said spring inwardly.

2. A pouch comprising a flattened tube of elastic material having alarge open top end and a small bottom end having a slit therein,overlapping closing flaps at the top end, fastening means for saidflaps, moulded spring retaining pockets at each side of the slit in thebottom end, and a U-shaped spring of strap material having its closedend twisted to an angle with its legs, said spring having the ends ofits legs cemented into said pockets, said legs being in contact with theinsides of the'edges of said flattened tube for a short distance abovethe bottom end thereof, said spring maintaining such slit in closedposition, and such slit being openable by pressing the edges of saidflattened tube inwardly against the resistance of said spring.

3. A pouch comprising a flattened tube of elastic material having alarge open top end and a small bottom end having a slit therein andhaving roughly parallel edgesextending a short distance above thebottom, overlapping closing flaps for the top end, moulded springretaining pockets at each side of the slit in the bottom end, and a flatU-shaped spring having its legs twisted into a a. common plane for adistance above the ends greater than the length of such parallel edges,theends of said legs being cemented into said pockets, and the twistedportions of said legs being in contact with the insides of said roughlyparallel edges, said spring maintaining such slit in closed position andbeing compressible to open such slit.

WALTER P. KOELLER.

